Big Ten Recruiting Rankings: 6-24-12

I have returned from vacation and, naturally, there's a lot of catching up to do. Michigan added a camp commit in Channing Stribling while every Big Ten school picked up at least one pledge over the past two weeks. Yes, even Indiana, which is now officially on the board. Changes since the last rankings:

^The average of the average rankings of the four recruiting services (the previous four columns). The figure is calculated based on the raw numbers and then rounded, so the numbers above may not average out exactly.

NOTE: Unranked recruits are counted as two-star players.

On to the full data after the jump.

#1 Michigan - 22 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Patrick Kugler

OL

PA

4

5

4

4

Shane Morris

QB

MI

4

5

4

4

Dymonte Thomas

S

OH

4

5

4

4

Kyle Bosch

OL

IL

4

4

4

4

Jake Butt

TE

OH

4

4

4

4

David Dawson

OL

MI

4

4

4

4

Chris Fox

OL

CO

4

4

4

4

Ben Gedeon

LB

OH

4

4

4

4

Jourdan Lewis

CB

MI

4

4

4

4

Mike McCray

LB

OH

4

4

4

4

Henry Poggi

DT

MD

4

4

4

4

Logan Tuley-Tillman

OL

IL

4

4

4

4

Wyatt Shallman

ATH

MI

4

4

4

3

Taco Charlton

DE

OH

4

3

4

4

Gareon Conley

CB

OH

3

4

4

4

DeVeon Smith

RB

OH

3

4

4

4

Maurice Hurst Jr.

DT

MA

3

4

4

3

Jaron Dukes

WR

OH

3

4

3

4

Khalid Hill

TE

MI

3

3

3

3

Csont'e York

WR

MI

3

3

3

3

Channing Stribling

CB

NC

2

2

3

NR

Scott Sypniewski

LS

IL

2

2

2

NR

The Wolverines add to their burgeoning sleeper collection with camp commit Channing Stribling. Scott Sypniewski picks up two stars from Rivals, Scout, and 247.

#2 Notre Dame - 14 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Jaylon Smith

LB

IN

5

5

5

4

Hunter Bivin

OL

KY

4

4

4

4

Steven Elmer

OL

MI

4

4

4

4

Mike Heuerman

TE

FL

4

4

4

4

Mike McGlinchey

OL

PA

4

4

4

4

Isaac Rochell

DE

GA

4

4

4

4

Malik Zaire

QB

OH

4

4

4

4

John Montelus

OL

MA

4

4

3

4

Colin McGovern

OL

IL

3

4

4

4

Jacob Matuska

DE

OH

3

4

4

3

James Onwualu

WR

MN

3

4

3

4

Corey Robinson

WR

TX

3

4

3

3

Devin Butler

CB

DC

3

3

3

4

Rashad Kinlaw

ATH

NJ

3

3

4

4

No changes for the Irish.

#3 Ohio State - 12 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Cameron Burrows

CB

OH

5

4

4

4

Jalin Marshall

ATH

OH

4

5

5

4

Joey Bosa

DE

FL

4

5

4

4

J.T. Barrett

QB

TX

4

4

4

4

Marcus Baugh

TE

CA

4

4

4

4

Evan Lisle

OL

OH

4

4

4

4

Billy Price

DT

OH

4

4

4

4

Eli Woodard

CB

NJ

4

4

4

4

Ezekiel Elliott

RB

MO

4

4

3

4

Jayme Thompson

S

OH

4

3

3

4

Tracy Sprinkle

DE

OH

3

3

3

3

Johnny Townsend

P

FL

NR

NR

NR

NR

The Buckeyes are the latest program to bolster their kicking game, grabbing Florida punter Johnny Townsend.

#4 Penn State - 11 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Adam Breneman

TE

PA

4

5

4

4

Christian Hackenberg

QB

VA

4

4

4

4

Greg Webb

DT

NJ

4

4

4

4

Garrett Sickels

DE

NJ

4

4

4

4

Ross Douglas

CB

OH

4

3

4

4

Brendan Mahon

OL

NJ

4

3

3

4

William Fuller

WR

PA

3

4

3

3

Andrew Nelson

OL

PA

3

3

3

4

Brandon Bell

LB

NJ

3

3

3

3

Curtis Cothran

DE

NJ

3

3

3

3

Neiko Robinson

S

FL

3

2

3

3

The Nittany Lions gain the commitment of linebacker Brandon Bell, their fifth pledge from New Jersey. Neiko Robinson gets two stars from Scout and three from ESPN, while William Fuller also gets upgraded to three stars on ESPN.

#5 Nebraska - 11 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Marcus McWilson

S

OH

4

4

4

3

Josh Banderas

LB

NE

4

3

4

4

Tre'vell Dixon

ATH

LA

4

3

3

4

Christian Lacouture

DE

TX

3

4

3

3

A.J. Natter

DE

WI

3

4

3

3

Courtney Love

LB

OH

3

3

4

4

Nathan Gerry

S

SD

3

3

3

3

Kevin Gladney

WR

OH

3

3

3

3

Greg Hart

TE

OH

3

3

3

3

Dan Samuelson

OL

IN

3

3

3

3

Gabriel Miller

LS

IN

2

2

2

NR

The Cornhuskers add S/ATH Nathan Gerry, WR Kevin Gladney, and LS (yes, another long snapper) Gabriel Miller to the fold.

#6 Illinois - 13 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Aaron Bailey

QB

IL

4

4

4

4

Caleb Day

CB

OH

4

3

3

3

Darius Mosely

CB

IL

3

3

3

4

Jarrod Clements

DE

OH

3

3

3

3

Reon Dawson

CB

OH

3

3

3

3

Christian DiLauro

TE

OH

3

3

3

3

Kenton Gibbs

DT

MI

3

3

3

3

Merrick Jackson

DT

IL

3

3

3

3

Dillan Cazley

CB

IL

3

3

2

3

Kendrick Foster

RB

IL

3

2

2

3

Jesse Chadwell

OL

MI

2

3

3

3

Austin Schmidt

OL

OH

2

2

2

3

Bryce Douglas

DT

IL

NR

NR

NR

NR

The Illini secure three commitments—OH CB Caleb Day, IL CB Darius Mosely, and IL DT Bryce Douglas—in three days, which is enough to vault them past Michigan State for sixth place in the standings.

#7 Iowa - 12 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

David Kenney

DE

IN

4

4

3

4

Colin Goebel

OL

IL

3

3

3

3

Delano Hill

S

MI

3

3

3

3

Brant Gressel

DT

OH

3

3

3

3

John Kenny

LB

IN

3

3

3

3

Derrick Mitchell Jr.

S

MO

3

3

3

3

Malik Rucker

S

MN

3

3

3

3

Sean Welsh

OL

OH

3

3

3

3

Derrick Willies

WR

IL

3

3

3

3

Nathan Bazata

DT

NE

3

2

3

3

Nic Shimonek

QB

TX

3

2

3

3

Andre Harris

ATH

MO

NR

NR

NR

NR

The Hawkeyes also pass Michigan State after picking up four commits: Malik Rucker, Derrick Mitchell Jr., Sean Welsh, and Andre Harris.

#8 Michigan State - 7 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Jon Reschke

LB

MI

4

4

4

4

Shane Jones

LB

OH

4

3

3

4

Damion Terry

QB

PA

3

4

3

4

Darian Hicks

CB

OH

3

3

4

3

Jalyn Powell

S

OH

3

3

3

4

Gerald Holmes

RB

MI

3

3

3

3

R.J. Shelton

RB

WI

3

3

3

3

The Spartans lose the commitment of Texas lineman Caleb Benenoch—not a big surprise considering the course of his recruitment—but pick up Ohio corner Darian Hicks.

#9 Wisconsin - 8 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Chikwe Obasih

DE

WI

4

3

4

3

Rob Wheelwright

WR

OH

3

4

3

3

Austin Ramesh

ATH

WI

3

3

4

3

Garret Dooley

LB

IL

3

3

3

4

Jack Keeler

OL

IL

3

3

3

4

Hayden Biegel

OL

WI

3

3

3

3

T.J. Watt

ATH

WI

3

3

3

NR

Jazz Peavy

WR

WI

3

2

2

NR

The Badgers pick up two in-state commits in OL Hayden Biegel and WR Jazz Peavy. T.J. Watt gets three stars from 247.

#10 Northwestern - 9 Commits

Name

Position

State

Rivals

Scout

24/7

ESPN

Matt Alviti

QB

IL

4

4

4

4

Sam Coverdale

OL

OH

3

3

3

3

Blake King

OL

IL

3

3

3

3

Brad North

OL

TX

3

3

3

3

Eric Joraskie

DE

PA

3

3

2

3

Macan Wilson

WR

TX

3

2

NR

NR

Tyler Lancaster

OL

IL

NR

2

3

NR

Xavier Menifield

RB

CA

NR

2

NR

NR

Hunter Miswander

K

OH

NR

NR

NR

NR

The Wildcats add four commits—OH OL Sam Coverdale, PA DE Eric Joraskie, CA RB Xavier Menifield, and OH K Hunter Miswander—and Tyler Lancaster picks up two stars from Scout and three from 247.

I agree, I don't understand it. Is the perception of it being a basketball school drown out football that much? Bloomington is a quintessential college town, has very good academics, and is a member of the best conference this world has to offer

2. Indiana is and always will be viewed as a basketball first school. Duke, Kentucky and Kansas aren't football powers either.

3. They have the unique disadvantage of having another B10 school in state plus Notre Dame. I wonder how many states the size of Indiana have 3 schools competing at that level. I realize that Notre Dame takes very few kids from Indiana, but I suspect that they are in on any recruits that they are interested in.

These aren't necessarily fatal -- Bill Mallory got them to several bowl games in the late 80s early 90s -- but it does mean that they need have a lot of inherent obstacles.

Well you want to use it because you feel those 2 stars we have hurts our average and you think having a median of 4 would look better. I do not see the benefit of Ace wasting his time on another category that will have each team having a score of a 3 or 4.

I don't feel that those 2 stars hurt our average, I know that they do. I also don't think a median of 4 looks better, I know it does. Adding the median would also help to give a better idea of what teams are recruiting at the same level I.e. Michigan, ND, and Ohio would have a median of 4 and the other teams would likely have a 3. It's a holistic way to compare classes. Wasting his time? It would literally take 10 seconds to calculate the median for each team. It takes no more than typing an Excel formula and selecting the data. I'd actually propose that Ace include the mode as well. It'd be another measure of central tendency that I think would be useful to see.

What is the benefit of this? Can't you just look at the rankings and put your finger in the middle of each teams rankings to find the median? Does it ruin your day when you see other teams have higher averages than us? You guys are getting to caught up in the rankings/averages.

More accurate judgments can be passed. If we use your logic, then why can't Ace just give the raw data and then we can just count up the stars and divide it by n number of recruits ourselves? I mean we could save him all that time and he wouldn't have to worry about it. In fact, why doesn't he just not post these at all? According to you, these rankings and averages don't matter, so let's just forget about them! Who cares that there's a significant correlation between highly ranked recruiting classes and success on the field? According to you, it doesn't matter!

I'm just really happy for you that you're so passionate about medians! What I am saying is that we value the averages and stars over our success in fulfilling needs. The coaching staff felt like a long snapper was a need so they picked one up. Yes, a 2 star long snapper is going to kill our average. Does adding additional stat categories that will make our numbers look better, make you feel better about this class?

About the merits of various measurements of central tendency with someone who's knowledge of the concept is no greater than a grade schooler's. It's not about making the numbers look better, it's about giving a more accurate representation of the makeup of the class.

A median DOES NOT let you know who has a better class at all. Every team in the BIG 10 will have a 3 or a 4, so what does that tell us? Your attempts at insults and reasoning are that of a grade schoolers. So stop being a snob and requesting additional statistical categories that will show Michigan with the highest score, just because it helps you sleep at night.

First, Michigan has 16 committs that are 4 stars to at least 3 of 4 services, which is 7 more than Ohio or ND who both have 9 that rank as such. That's mind blowing, and puts in perspecitve taking the commitments of guys like Stribling (who will be a consensus 3 star by NSD) and Spyniewski. Even the vaunted Alabama takes a few consensus 3 stars every year, and let's not forget that guys like Hart and Breaston were 3 stars.

We will have a top 3 class by year end, wether we land Treadwell or other elite guys or not. Given what Hoke, and company seem to be able to do coaching up talent, that should fill the Michigan faithful with great hope for what the future holds. If we eternally miss out on the lingering elite one or two guys to fill out a class because the coaches are busy laying the groundwork with a dozen or more consensus 4 stars for next year's class, I'll take it.

We may not get the #1 overall class on 247 now unless they reevaluate and some of our player averages go up. 247 now lists Alabama as the #1 class while ESPN lists them as 3rd, scout lists them as 5th, and rivals lists them as 2nd. None of the top players we are in with on 247 list are rated higher than any of our current top 5 commits, I believe, while other services list our "nsd" prospects as our top prospects or at least our second best. Does anyone know how 247 typically rates and reevaluates players?

Getting the #1 overall class doesn't matter. Getting elite talent matters - and making sure that the talent fits your roster and schemes matters - but I think people get too worked up about these poorly constructed class rankings.

If we continue recruiting classes like this one, we're unlikely to encounter an opponent with vastly better talent. There will be a lot of teams with similar talent (e.g., OSU) such that execution, game planning, luck, etc. will likely make the difference, and then there will be a lot of teams against which we'll have a real talent advantage that they'll have to overcome (e.g., MSU).

(Note that I'm not saying that star ratings are silly and we should blindly trust the coaches.)

I know this, just from watching Florida states dominant recruiting classes and overall lackluster underperformance you can see where real value lies, but I'm still wondering what will happen with 247 rankings.